The vote on whether the government should be guaranteed a majority on Commons Public Bill Committees is about the Brexit battles to come.

How MPs voted on the government's EU repeal bill.

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP MP John Lamont argues for taxaton to be kept as low as possible. That, he argues encourages growth and innovation.

He accuses the Scottish Government of making Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.

Turning to the bill he says his constituents will welcome penalties for those who design tax avoidance schemes and the abolition of non-dom status.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Chair Lord Forsyth says he promised the Chancellor's office that they would finish by 5pm.

So there the session ends.

Lord Forsyth thanks the Chancellor for answering the varied questions so openly.

Select Committee
Parliament

Lord Tugendhat notes that the number of international students overstaying their visa has been overestimated and asks what the rationale is for including students in the immigration figures.

Philip Hammond says students are defined by the UN as migrants.

He argues that if the government tried to change the statistic definitions "the British people would think we were moving the goalposts".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Douglas Ross, the Conservative MP for Moray also makes his maiden speech today.

"For the son of a farmworker and school cook to be elected to serve his area is a huge honour and privilege," he says.

Margaret Ewing was one of the previous MPs, and he says she was remembered as someone who fought for their constituents.

And Angus Robertson, who was MP for 16 years, built up a "formidable reputation" and was a conscientious constituency MP, as well as making an impact in the House, he says.

As is usual, he pays tribute to his constituency which he calls the most beautiful "no ifs no buts".

He turns to the issue of broadband and he says it is no comfort to find out that 94% of premises have "access" to broadband.

And he says he will support the Moray Growth Deal, external which should help local people live and work in the area; as well as tackling delivery charges faced by many of the people living in his area.

He finishes by saying that MPs are seen as "distant" by the public. We will find a lot more favour with our constituents if we work together, he says, and he promises to adopt that philosophy during his time in the House.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Lord Turnbull quotes the Chancellor as having described Hinkley Point as "a well designed transfer of risk".

Do you still think that, he asks

"Yes," replies the Chancellor.

Even in the light of NAO criticisms, asks Lord Turnbull.

Philip Hammond insists that Hinkley Point is good value for money and essential if the government is to meet its target to decarbonise power generation by 2050.

Reality Check

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Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union, has said he would support members taking illegal strike action in contravention of the new trade union laws.

It's been just over six months since two extra thresholds were introduced, requiring at least a 50% turnout in strike ballots and at least 40% of eligible members to vote in favour of strike action in certain key services.

There have been a few examples of strikes not going ahead as a result of the laws, including the RMT ballot on London Underground, external, which was 80% in favour of strike action but with only a 34% turnout.

It is also likely that the rules will change behaviour, with unions less likely to ballot members if they are not confident of getting a 50% turnout.

In terms of working days lost to industrial action, external, 90,000 were lost in the first four months after the law was changed. That is relatively low for a four-month period. The average in the last decade was 177,000. But it's not a record low: in the same four months of 2015 only 50,000 days were lost.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Lord Lamont asks what work government agencies are doing to prepare for the outcomes of the Brexit negotiations.

"Government agencies need time," says Philip Hammond. He adds that not agreeing any transition arrangement will mean public agencies "incurring significant costs".

He says that HMRC is preparing for all eventualities, including for a no deal scenario.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Dan Carden, the new Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, begins his maiden speech paying tribute to previous MP Steve Rotheram, who fought for justice for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough tragedy.

He talks about Liverpool's charms, saying his father and grandfather worked on the docks. Dock labour gave rise to the unions and working class struggle, he says. "We are a city of survivors and we have had to be."

Liverpool's contribution to culture, music and sport is also marked.

The people of Liverpool Walton "acted as one", with 85.7% of the vote going to Labour, a result, he says, which is a rejection of austerity.

Hunger, ill-health and squalor are returning to his constituency, he says, and the police are stretched to the limits. Almost 40% of children in Liverpool are growing up in poverty and the answer to a question to the prime minister earlier this year - that children benefit from parents in work - was met with incredulity in his constituency, he says.

He pays tribute to the union Unite, and its leader Len McCluskey.

Select Committee
Parliament

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"Chancellor. Brexit." begins Labour's Lord Darling.

He notes that the Chancellor said "a number of commonsense things" over the summer about transition arrangements.

He contrasts this with the leaked Home Office document which painted "a draconian picture" in which a new regime for EU immigrants would begin on 31 March 2019.

He asks the Chancellor to clarify what the government's policy is concerning the movement of people and a transition period.

The Chancellor says that during the transitional period, EU nationals will be able to come to the UK as they do now.

He says people should listen to what the home secretary says rather than "a document someone has dug out somewhere".

Select Committee
Parliament

Lord Forsyth notes that there have been reports that the government is reviewing the loans system.

He asks if the Chancellor can share what options he has been considering.

"It wouldn’t be helpful to only look at financing,” replies Philip Hammond.

He says the government’s focus should be on offering students a package that “represents value for money”.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Crossbench Lord Burns asks why the government is able to change the terms of a student loan long after the loan has been taken out.

He contrasts this with efforts being made by the government "to improve the way financial services treat their customers".

Philip Hammond argues that the government is fundamentally different to a financial service company.

He says the government does not operate to make profit, will act responsibly and is accountable.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour's Baroness Kingsmill asks if an increase in the number of graduates will help with low levels of productivity.

The Chancellor says the "conundrum" of low productivity is one economists cannot agree on.

He says the government believes skills are "a significant factor" but emphasises that just because everyone has a degree doesn't mean productivity will rise.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour Lords leader Baroness Smith of Basildon sets out that her party has "very serious anxieties" about the future of UK-EU relations.

She claims the EU Withdrawal Bill shows that the government "sees Parliament as an irritant, only interested in tying its hands in negotiations".

She says the Lords EU Committee is "continuing to find it difficult" to get David Davis to appear in front of them, and while she has some sympathy with him she wants him to "seize on our support" for a transitional arrangement.

She also suggests the government has devised its position papers from scratch, not taking into account views and advice from Parliament.